How to Write Good News
News is a short piece of information about something that is important or has just happened. It can be about a political event, a natural disaster or anything else that affects the world we live in. The purpose of news is to inform, educate and entertain. It is vital to democracy that citizens remain informed, and the free press plays a key role in this. News is usually delivered via newspapers, magazines, radio and television.
Before you start writing a news article, research your topic extensively. You will need to find out as much as you can about what is happening, who is involved and why it is important to the people you are writing for. This research will help you to decide what facts and figures are most important, and which ones can be left out. The more you know about your topic, the easier it will be to write a compelling news story.
There are five basic criteria that a news item must meet to be considered worthy of being newsworthy: it must be new, unusual, interesting, significant and about people. An example of a good news story would be a plane crash that is affecting many people. A bad news story might be a flood that is causing a lot of damage. A news item might also be significant if it causes fear or controversy. It is possible that a news item could tick several of the boxes, but it must be all five to be considered worthy of being newsworthy.
It is important that a news story is presented fairly and accurately. It is the job of journalists to present the facts without bias or prejudice. This is a hard job, especially in the current climate when there is a growing distrust of experts and authority. This distrust is being capitalized on by people who want to tell their own version of events.
A good news item should be written above the fold if it is being printed in a newspaper. This means that it should be placed high on the page so that most people will see it. A good headline will capture the readers attention and make them want to read the whole story.
In addition to the headline, a good lead paragraph should give an overview of the story and highlight the most important information. A good lead should be short, jargon-free and written in the active voice. It should be easy to understand, and any quotes should be attributed to a source that is known.
The last section of a news story should answer any questions the reader might have about the story. It is also important to include a call to action and a contact number for those who are interested in finding out more. This will help to keep the reader engaged and increase the likelihood that they will share the news with others.